TEDxOrangeCoast Announces Fall Conference to Have More Attendee Interaction with Talkers

The fourth annual TEDxOrangeCoast fall conference will be Sept. 19-20 at Soka University in Aliso Viejo, organizers announced.

This year's theme is "Tipping Point," which is a reference the idea made popular by Malcolm Gladwell that ideas and trends cross new thresholds and spread to reshape society. If only Gladwell were a speaker here; those folks won't be confirmed until around mid-July, with the full lineup firmed up in August. But registration is already open at www.tedxorangecoast.com.

For the unaware, TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design and videos and podcasts of TED Talks now clog my Netflix and iTunes playlists. TEDxOrangeCoast is a non-profit, independently organized TED event "devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading through annual conferences featuring fascinating doers and thinkers who present in 18 minutes or less," according to organizers.

Besides TEDxTalks, this year's conference is to feature "Social Spaces," which are themed areas designed to attract attendees and spark "innovative" conversations on such topics as food, music, dance, art and education and more. Soka is opening outdoor spaces and galleries "that enable guests to customize their experience and interact more thoroughly with other conference goers and speakers," according to TEDxOrangeCoast.

"This year we're happy to offer our guests a more immersive experience than in past years," says executive producer Mojdeh Eskandari in the announcement. "We want them to be inspired, but we also want them to connect with the speakers and one another."

His This year's conference also showcases the winners of the TEDxTeenChallenge, a contest where teen entrants conceive and present an Idea Worth Doing. Challenge applications are being accepted through Aug. 30 at www.tedxorangecoast.com/teen.